"Now that he's seen as playing a role in actual killings, not merely defending others accused of murder on the battlefield, President Donald Trump must decide whether he shares Hegseth's insouciance. If he doesn't share his cavalier views on the subject, Trump needs to fire him. If he doesn't fire him, Trump in effect tells the world-including the 2 million service members of the U.S. armed forces-that he too is indifferent to the laws of war,"
"The controversy surrounds the spate of boat sinkings committed by U.S. Special Forces in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific-at least 22 so far, killing 80 people onboard, all suspected of smuggling narcotics, though no evidence has been produced in public. Hegseth has directed these operations with gleeful enthusiasm, though the policy itself was instigated by Trump. Hegseth's unique crime, alleged in a Washington Post story just this week, was that before the first sinking, back in September,"
Pete Hegseth is accused of directing U.S. Special Forces operations that sank at least 22 Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing about 80 people aboard. The crews were civilian and not at war with the United States, and no public evidence has been produced linking them to narcotics smuggling. Hegseth publicly rejects the concept of war crimes and has reportedly directed these operations enthusiastically. A report alleges he ordered personnel to "kill them all" before the first sinking. President Donald Trump faces a choice to remove or retain Hegseth, with potential long-term effects on civilian-military relations and troop morale.
Read at Slate Magazine
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